Status of the narrator: Muhammad bin 'Umar (al-Waqidi) is corroborated (mutaba'), and the chain up to him is well known. The discussion of him has already passed under hadith (4060). The statement that "he was the first of the leaders (nuqaba') to speak" is a saying of al-Waqidi.

Takhrij / Reference: Ibn Sa'd (3/572) narrated it from Muhammad bin 'Umar al-Waqidi with this chain, and mentioned al-Waqidi's statement a little after it.

Takhrij (death of al-Bara'): The death of al-Bara' bin Ma'rur before the arrival of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has already passed with the author (al-Hakim) under number (1321), by way of 'Abd al-'Aziz bin Muhammad al-Darawardi, from Yahya bin 'Abd Allah bin Abi Qatadah. It contains the addition that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went and prayed over him and supplicated for him (that is, he prayed at his grave). But it does not mention that his death was one month before the arrival of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Supporting reports (shawahid): That al-Bara' bin Ma'rur was the first of the leaders to speak (on the night of 'Aqabah) is supported by the hadith of Ka'b bin Malik in Ahmad (25/15798) and others with a "hasan" chain. It also states that al-Bara' bin Ma'rur was the first to strike his hand on the hand of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in pledging allegiance. So he was the first to speak and the first to pledge allegiance, as the narration after it also supports.